Dear Presidents, Members & our Rotary
Family
Tsunami disaster - 26 December
2004
I cannot remember a time when I have felt so much despair at
the suffering of others!
The urge to do something, anything is
overwhelming.
However we can help most by using our profile in our
communities to fundraise.
I have had many communications from Rotary
International, other Australian District Governors and the
effected districts and whilst they have immediate needs these can
be best met by Governments and emergency relief organizations.
Rotary is best equipped to help in the second stage of
rebuilding..
Money will be the most needed commodity. I know that
many agencies are out there collecting funds, however no other
group has the Rotary profile for delivering 100% of the dollars
collected
So please get your club members to get out into the
public and collect as much as possible.
RAWCS will be looking for volunteers to go to the
stricken areas to help rebuild in the near future. This is our
area of greatest strength.
Knowing you all as I do I am sure that we have all
shed a tear for those poor soles who have been hit by this
tragedy, but tears don't help rebuild so lets get cracking and
show the world what Rotary can do
I realise that a lot of clubs are still on Christmas
break but we need for Rotary members to be in shopping centres and
main streets collecting for the victims
now!
What is the current position?
This is a major natural disaster involving 11
Countries which surround the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean.
Rotary does not have the ability to significantly
contribute to the relief effort at this time -apart from donating
money.
Relief efforts are being co-ordinated by the United
Nations and various Governments plus Care Australia, World Vision,
Red Cross, Oxfam, Caritas Australia and
others.
We are being particularly asked not to donate goods
or non-medical volunteer services at this time because all
disaster areas do not have the infrastructure to handle such large
quantities of donated goods, therefore our efforts would be a
hindrance.
How can we help?
The following immediate opportunities are highly
recommended -
1. Raise money - All Australian Districts and
Rotarians are encouraged to contribute to a Rotary Australia World
Community Service (RAWCS) Regional Overseas Aid Fund to be known
as 'RAWCS Indian Ocean Disaster Appeal'
This will provide tax deductibility and isolate our
donated funds, which means that we retain some control and see
where the money is going.
We believe you would prefer this approach rather
than contributing to a National, International or non-Rotary Fund
-however the choice is yours.
Even if the money is not used in the short term,
with the number of countries involved there will be ample
opportunity in the future to complete major projects, perhaps also
using Rotary Foundation or AusAID funding as 'multipliers' to
re-build hospitals, schools homes etc.
Contributions
Contributions can be sent to Rotary International
District 9830, District Treasurer by cheques written as RAWCS
Disaster Relief Fund
Procedure for collecting donor
monies
a) If individual donation - Rotary Clubs can issue a
receipt to donor detailing amount of donation, donors name and
address and date collected. Interim receipts can be issued by a
Rotary Club but a copy of the receipt must be forwarded with the
cheque to the District treasurer (you will need to purchase
receipt books for this purpose)
b) Indicate to the donor that you are issuing an
interim receipt. A receipt indicating tax deductibility can only
be issued by the RAWCS Overseas Aid Fund through your RAWCS
Regional Treasurer in Parramatta. This will be forwarded to the
donor by the RAWCS Regional Group;
c) All monies should be forwarded to our District
Treasurer who will forward a list to our RAWCS Chairman, PP Steve
Love and myself as DG.
d) RAWCS will acknowledge all monies received from
Districts or Rotary Clubs on the RAWCS
website.
2. Does your Club already have working relationships
with overseas Rotary Clubs near the affected areas? If so please
give the details to our District RAWCS Chairman. This may present
ideal project opportunities, both now and in the future, which can
be made to work.
3. Get medical aid and equipment to the affected
areas.
All requests will be forwarded on as/when they are
received and we have procedures in place to process the forwarding
of goods.
Action required
a) Club contribution of any amount will be most
appreciated, however if each Club donates $1,000 we will raise
$50,000 or better still $2,000 per club would return $100,000 in
District 9830 (2/3 as much as promised by our state
government).
b) Invite your Club members to make a contribution.
Remember this is the worst natural disaster to have occurred in
our lifetime -and it has taken place in our
region.
c) Consider running a fund-raising event
We are indeed fortunate to be in the position of
providing assistance to these beautiful people and may we never
know first hand how it feels to be in the midst of such
devastation and despair.
Please contact either myself or the Chair of RAWCS
Steve Love, International Chair PDG Una Hobday or The Rotary
Foundation Chair PDG Lew Pretorius if you wish to discuss the
issue further or have any suggestions.
Yours in Rotary Service Above
Self
Muriel
DG Muriel Heron
2 January 2005
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